Improvement in automatic boiler-feeders



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M 1 Lun AM, PHOTO-LITRO. CO. N.Y. (USEORN'S PROCESS) UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE.

`SAMUEL DRIVER,` OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO HIM- SELFAND EDWARD LONGAN, OF SAME PLAGE.

IMPROVEMENT IN AUTOMATIC BOlLER-FEEDERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 49,949, dated September12, 1865.

To all lwhom 'it may concern.-

Be it known that I, SAMUEL DRIVER, of the city and county ofPhiladelphia, and State of Pennsylvania, have invented an ImprovedAutomatic WatenFeeder for Steam-Boilers; and I do hereby declare thatthe followingis a full, clear, and exact description ot' theconstruction and operation of the same, reference being had to theannexed drawings, making a part of this specification, in which- Figure1 is a side elevation of the apparatus. Fig. 2 is a front view of thesame with the counter-weights left oft the levers L L. Fig. 3 is a topview otl one of the levers.

Like letters in all the gures indicate the same parts.

The nature of my invention consists in combining and arranging with thefeed-pipe and boiler an intermediate water-receiver, which automaticallykeeps, up a constant supply of water to the boiler, the apparatus beingconstructed, arranged, and operating substantially as follows:

A is a cast-iron box, which I conne to the top of the boiler or locatein any other convenient place. Within the boxAthere is a chest, B, whichcommunicates with the water-line in the boi-ler by means of a pipeleading from the opening C, through which the Water is caused to descendto keep up a regular supply of water to the boiler, as will behereinafter described.

There are balance-valves D D `on the vertical rod E, which have theirseats in the top and bottom plates, a a', of the chest B, the said rod Eworking in the stufng-boxes b b. There is a valve, F, on the verticalrod G, which is provded with stufng-boxes c c. The said valve is foropening and closing the communication between the feed-pipe and the boxA its seat being in the bottom of the chest H, with which the feed-pipeis connected by means of the opening d. The valves D D have an alternatemovement with the valve F, the said valve being actuated by the cams I Ion the horizontal shaft J, which is geared in any convenient manner withthe driving-shaft of the engine, there being friction-wheels K K on theupper ends of the rods E G. Counter movements are given to thevalve-rods by means of the friction-wheels K K work.

The operation is as follows: As the camshaft .I revolves in thedirection of the arrow the cams I I give a reciprocal motion to thebalance-valves D D and the valve F the cam I opening and closing thevalves D Dl and the cam I opening and closing the valve F. When thevalve F is open, as seen in Figs. 1,2, there is an open communicationbetween the feedpipe and the box A, and the communication at that timewith the boiler by means of the chestB is closed by the valves D D', andbya reverse position of the valves D D and yF the communication withtheboileris openedand the communication with thefeed-pipeis closed; and soon successively, the valves continue to operate, so that the water maydescend from the feed-pipe into the box A, and thence through the chestB into the boiler, by the alternate opening ot' the valves D D'l withthe valve F. This action takes place Whenever the water in the boilergets below the water-line in consequence of the steam rushing up thecommunieating pipe into the chest B, and being condensed by the waterfrom the box A at every opening of the valves D D', which water thendescends to replenish the boiler. But when the water in the boiler risesto the water-line this action cannot take place, because the steam inthe upper part ofthe boiler then presses the water up the said pipe andinto the chest B and overcomes the weight of the water. Gon sequentlythere will be but a slight variation of the depth of water in the boilerat all times.

The valves will open and close by the action ofthe cams withoutsupplying the boiler with water until by the generation of steam thesurface of the water descends below the water line. Then the refillingof the boiler will again take place, as above described. Thus the boilerwill constantly be supplied with water automatically as needed withoutthe use of a pump or injector. The apparatus feeds hot water equally aswell as cold water, and one of proper capacity to fill a boiler of acertain size will answer for any smaller size boiler.

Having thus fully described my improved automatic water-feeder forsteam-b0i1ers,what 3. Combining and arranging the cams I 1 I claimtherein asnew, and desire t-o secure by with the valves D D and F,substantially as Letters Patent, isand for the purposes set forth.

1. Combining the feed-pipe with the boiler In testimony that the aboveismy invention by means of the boXA and ohestsB H, arranged I havehereunto set my hand and aiixed my lnd operating substantially asdescribed, and seal this 9th day of August, 1865.

or the purpose setforth. Y

2. The combination and arrangement of the SAMUEL DRIVER IL' S'] valves DD with the chest B, for openingand Witnesses: closing the communicationbetween thebox A STEPHEN UsTIGK, and the boiler, substantially asdescribed. EDWARD WILLIAMS.

